Indicator or protector for visible indexes or the like



June 221, 1930. R, Flfrz POWER 1,768,292

0R THE LIKE INDICATOR OR PROTECTOR FOR VISIBLE INDEXES .1... H I FLO .U1 IE J9 GH@ 1 .fuv/ G 2 6 D a 5 G .U5\ 'J nu A Fluff G 1 s F. H G G 3 .u B l T1 n2 4.. N 5 .u M u... YH. 5 m m N m. Ki T F Flc-1.7.

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE RICHARD FITZ POWER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 MORLAND 6c IMPEY LIMITED, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND INDICATOR OR PROTECTOR FOR VISIBLE INDEXES OR THE LIKE Application led May 31, 1928, Serial No. 281,933, and in Great Britain December 7,1927.

This invention relates to sheets or cards for indexes and like purposes and to indicating devices employed in conjunction with such sheets or cards for purposes of reference.

The invention has among its objects to provide a card with an indicator which will be cheap to manufacture and readily visible in use, together with means for detachably securing such an indicator in different reference positions on the sheet or card.

The indicating devices for index cards and the like in accordance with the present invention are characterized by means for effecting interlocking` with the card or the like, a further characteristic feature of the invention consisting in providing a card or the like with means adapted to permit of the detachable securement of an indicator er indicators for the purpose of calling attention to the particular sheet or card, and reference to a particular element of the sheet or card.

The reference elements are conveniently arranged in line formation on the visible edge of the index card, say a set of numerals indicating the months of the year, or other indication, dependent on the purpose to which the index is to be applied, the depending portion of the indicator directing attention to any particular reference integer accoi-ding to the position in which it is interlocked with the card.

One form of indicator comprises an indicating tab or leg across the upper end of which is provided a transverse limb resulting in a construction resembling the letter T, the tab or leg portion being provided with an opening for a purpose to be stated hereinafter.

In a preferred embodiment a sheet or card is provided adjacent and parallel to its lower edge-which is customarily a major edge due to the sheets or cards usually being rectangular-with a transverse series of vertical cuts or slits preferably in line formation, with which cuts or slits an indicator or indicators is or are adapted to cooperate for the purpose of securing the indicator to the sheet or card and thereby calling attention to the sheet or card wliereto it or they are attached, and to some particular reference on the lower edge of the sheet or card itself. y

The method of attachment is by inserting the ends of the transverse limb of the indicator in any desired pair of cuts or slits of the series, the depending leg of the indicator being arranged to be visible on or below the edge of the sheet or card.

The material of which indicators are constructed is usually coloured Celluloid, and particularly where a number of indicators are to be used in conjunction with a single sheet it may be desirable to have the indicators of varying colours, each with a particular reference meaning, although it may in any case be found advantageous to utilize indicators of different colours. y

Vhere an indicator is to be used in connection with a Celluloid pocket, it may be conveniently of the T form described, a series of slits being provided for its attachment adjacent the pocket so that the depending leg of the indicator lies therein.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying explanatory drawings which illustrate several embodiments of the indicating and protecting devices, and means for attaching such devices to sheets, cards or the like.

In said drawings:

Fig. l represents an index card provided with reference characters and indicating devices attached according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a portion of a .card including a numerical reference on its lower edge, the indicator being formed with a window;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line III-III of Fig. 2 to a larger scale;

Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 illustrate various forms of indicato-rs for attachment to a sheet or card, or the like;

Fig. 8 illustrates an edge protecting device and indicator according to the invention;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 9 to a larger scale; and

Fig. 10 illustrates an application of the invention to the cards of an index tray as customarily used.

In Figs. l and 2 the card A includes a loop B along the top with internal recesses C and a line of perforations D about which when positioned the card is turned up, it being understood that the cards are designed more particularly for application to an index device in which they are adapted. to be arranged in overlying relation with the lower edge portion E of each card visible. For reference to a particularrcard, the overlying cards are folded back about their respective carrying bars. Y

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, provided adjacent to the lower edge portion E of the card A are a series of cuts or slits F arranged in a line' substantially aarall'el with the lower edge of the card, t e slits lying transversely across such imaginary line. G represents an indicator adapted to be' detachably secured to the sheets or cards A by engagement with any particular' pair ofcuts or slits F. A depending portion of the indicator is adapted to remain visible on the lower edge E of the card when a series of cards areassembled in an index. A numerical series of reference characters S is arranged on the lower visiblel edge E of the index card A and the depending leg. of the indicator cooperates with a particular integer of the reference to call attention thereto, as hereinafter described.

In addition to the transverse series of slits F a. pair of cuts or slits H are provided iu theccard adjacent the corner thereof, with which cuts or slits H a. corner indicator I is adapted for detachable secureinent, thev construction of the indicator I being such that when positioned it lies flush with the corner of the card.

A modification of the corner indicator I isI shown on the left-hand corner of the sheet in this ligure and is indicated by the reference I2. In this case the slits H have to be arranged angular-ly, which is undesirableinasmuch as the card is weakened thereby. n

Referring now more particularly to Figs.l 2 and 3, the card A is similar in construction to that illustratedy in Fig. l, but the lower edge J is folded back about the card A and secured thereto by means of adhesive or the like so as to constitute a reinforcement for the exposed edge E of the sheet. To provide the card with an index reference, a series of apertures K are formed in the bentoverv portion J through which apertures K the integers of an index reference L provided on the lower edge of the card proper are visible. i

An indicator or indicators is or are adapted for use in association with the index reference L in order to call attention to any particular integer thereof, the disposition of the transverse cuts F being so arranged that by suitable choice any particular integer can be indicated by a device such as O, to be hereinafter described in conjunction with Fig. 7.

Referring now to Figs. 4;, 5, 6, and 7, Gr and I represent two of the indicators illustrated in Fig. l, the indicator G being adapted to be secured. in position on.. the card A by its transverse arms-G engaging with a pair of cuts or slits F. The indicator is made in the form of a T with a depending leg G2 provided with an aperture or opening G3, which when positioned serves as an indicator for the purpose of calling attention to any particularl desired card A, or to one of the reference characters S of such card A.

The corner indicator I is illustrated in Fig. l, and it is seen that the mode of attachmen-t is the saine, transverse projections Y I" engaging' the slits Il, one of whichis in fact the terminal slit of the series F.

In Fig. 5, N represents a further modii'ied form of indicator in which a small projection l\ 3 provided Von the upper kedge facilitates the detachment of the indicator kfrom a cooperating pair of slits F, this projection being engaged, for example, by the nail of an operator, and the indicator buckled' so as to permit of its extraction.

As shown clearly in Fig. 5, the indicator N is substantially of the T configuration as the indicator G, but in this case the Vedges are rounded for the purpose of facilitating attachment or detachment of a sheet or card'.

Fig. 7 illustrates a 'i' form of indicator O similar to that shown in Fig. 6, the depending portion G2 being provided with `window or aperture OLl adapted when the indicator is positioned to frame the desired reference.

The indicators may be made of any suitable material, such coloured celluloid or the like, and where a number of indicators are to be used, they may be conveniently made of material of differing colours` Referring' now to the construction illustrated in Figc. 8 and 9, the lower edge E of the sheet or card is reinforced with a covering pocket P of Celluloid or the like secured to the edge E of the card by suitable means, for example staples I)1 which also serve to retain the pocket shape of the reinforcement P. The material of the pocket is preferably transparent, so that a numerical or other reference L provided on the lower edge E of the card can be seen therethrough. A series of transverse slits or cuts F are provided adjacent the Celluloid pocket for the seein-ement of an indicator such as Q, the depending portion Q1 of which may in this case conveniently be bifurcated for the purpose of more elticiently indicating a particular integer of the reference L.

Fig. ll illustrates the application of the invention to sheets or cards of an index of customary tumbler arrangement. In this construction the upper edges V of the cards A are adapted to constitute the means of attaching the sheets or cards A to the tray or the like and also a pivot about which a sheet is moved when reference to a lower sheet is required.

The index tray l/V is here illustrated as having flanged edges X, Y, the ends V of the upper edge V of the sheets A being adapted to engage under the flanges X, Y and thereby secure the sheets or cards A to the tray.

A series of cuts orslits F is provided adjacent the lower edge E of each sheet and is adapted for cooperation with any of the indicators such as G before described, the depending portion of the indicator cooperating with the numerical reference S located on the lower edge E of the sheet or card.

Although in the examples illustrated numerical series such as S and L constitute the references, it will be seen that any suitable form of reference may be employed dependent on the purpose to which the index containing the cards A is applied, for instance a reference setting out the days of the week or their initial letters may be employed, or if desired code signs indicative of the matter may be recalled.

A suitable device in the nature of a pair of pincers may, where desired, be utilized to facilitate the insertion or extraction of the indicators into or from their cooperating slits, byl buckling the projections on the indicator so as to register with the slits, and for convenience of entry and exit the arms can be suitably tapered.

It will be seen that the indicators above described are conveniently applicable for use as bookmarkers to indicate particular pages of a book and to indicate a particular' portion of a page.

I claim:

l. In combination with an index card, a series of slots adjacent and parallel to one edge of said card, reference characters along the edge of said card, and an indicator adapted for interlocking engagement with said slots and arranged to form a frame for one or other of the reference characters to call attention to a particular reference character.

2. In combination with an index card, a series of slots adjacent and parallel to one edge of said card, reference characters along the edge of said card, and a T-shaped indicator, the lateral arms of which are adapted for interlocking engagement with said slots with the depending leg in juxaposition with one or other of said reference characters and arranged to form a frame for a particular reference character.

3. 1n combination an index card, a series of slots on said card adjacent and parallel to one edge, reference characters on said card and a T-shaped indicator, an aperture in said indicator being adapted to frame one or other of said reference characters when the indicator is interlocked with said slots.

4. In combination an index card, a celluloid pocket secured to one edge of said card, reference characters on said edge, a series of slots adjacent and parallel to said edge, and a T-shaped indicator, the lateral arms of said indicator being adapted to engage said slots with the indicator resting in said pocket to call attention to a particular reference character.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

RCHARD FITZ POWER. 

